Wiper for strings engaged in wells



"Feb. 2, m4 G, U T 2,667,929

WIPER FOR STRENGS ENGAGED IN WELLS Filed Dec. l0, 1948 3 sheetswsheet l 1 JNVENTOR.

Gera/d 7?. Hana lav/1;; 2 7

Feb. 2 1.954 5. R HUNT 2,667,929

WIPER FOR STRINGS ENGAGED IN WELLS Filed Dec. 10, 1948 2 SheetST-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Gera/d 5. Hunt Patented Feb. 2, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WIPER FOR STRINGS ENGAGED IN WELLS Gerald' R'Hunt, Long Beach, Calif.

-ApplicationDecember 10, 1948, Serial No. 64,508

- 6 Claims.

Thisinvention" is *concern'edwith' wipers'to' encage or 'acton parts engaged in a'well, and more specifically it is concerned withwipers for use in connection with elements 'of' a well at the top or head thereof and serving 'to engage astring engaged or entered in the well in order-"to wipe or strip material therefrom in the course of bein withdrawn from the well. Itis a general object of the invention toprovide a wiper= or device of the general character referred to-whi'ch is of simple inexpensive"construction, which is easily and quickly applied Or -established inoperating position;'and'which is highly effective in action. "Wipers are commonly used in connection-with drill pipes employed in'wellsior the-purpose oi wiping or strippingmaterial fromthe pipe as it is being withdrawn from thewell, and to'incidentally check accidental introdu'ction' of small objects or tools into the-well; suchas may-otherwise occur "if the upper end ofthe well is open and unobstructed.

The us'ual -wiper is characterized 'by' a disc having a central hole therein slidably-passing the drill pipe and "the outside diameter 0fthe disc is substantially -gre'a'ter than thewell elements in connection with 'whichbr-:between which the wiper-is engaged. Theperipheral portion ofthe wiper is usuallyreinforcedas by means :of a metal ring sothat in'action'the wiper; being -larger than the parts between which it is located. and" being stiff so vIthat it cannot be collapsed, floats in operating position without being:'definitelyfixed' or attachedto any particular parts.

wiper constructed and arranged as I just described is rather slow and difficult-to-install'ior operation -as-it requires stripping'bver-thedrill pipe, and when itis related to a rotary table used to handle drill pipe it requires-thatthe master bushings be removed in :order'to pass the wiper through the table to working position where it is betweenthe table and the well casing. Furthermore; the. usualwiperconstructed as above described is large and-heavy and involves a substantial quantity of: rather expensive --mater-ial making it a costly item of manufacture.

It is a general object-ofthisinvention to provide a wiper .to be related to oneormore elements of a well structure, the wiper beingrelated-to such element or elementsso .as to be-insertable into operating position without requiring--dis- Another'object of my invention is to provide a wiper construction of the general character 'referred to which does not require a metal 'ring or body of reinforcing material, such as characterizes the ordinary wiper.

'It is another object of the invention to provide a wiper construction including anchoring means by which the wiper is secured or anchored to a well part to be maintained in operating position, as distinguished from'being'confined -by the well parts, as is the case with the ordinary wiper.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred'forms and applications of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to-the' accompanying drawings,in which:

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating the top-of a well showing the upperend of a casing, a-rotary unit and a drill pipe extending through the unit and into the casing, parts being broken away to show in section, and a wiper of the present invention being shown in operating position. Fig, 2 is a view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig.

1 showing the wiper in operating position but anchored to another element of'the well structure. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the wiper showing it engaged on a pipe and apart'from other el'ements'of the well structure. Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 44 on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 3 showing a different or modified form of construction. Fig. 6 is a View taken as indicated by line 6-6 on Fig. 5. Fig. '7 is a view showing the upper or head end portion of a'well with a head structure'or spideron'the upper end of a casing in'w'hich tubing is located. Fig; 8 is a transverse section taken as indicated by line 8-8 on'Fig. '7. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 99 on Fig. 8. Fig. 101s a view similar to Fig. 7 showing a head construction on a well casing accommodating a sucker rod, and Fig. 11 is a plan view'taken as indicated by line Il-H on Fig. 10.

The wiper provided by my present invention is such "as to-be used'in connection with well parts or elements, and it is intended to serve as a wiper for removing mud, oil, or other material from a string extending from a wellcasing; which string may be a string of drill pipe, tubing, or a string of sucker rods. The well'structure in conjunction with which the wiper is employed or in combination with which it operates may involve elements such as a well casing, or the head or a head-like-structure on acasing, a rotary unit, or other like parts or structures.

In illustrating the invention it has been shown in several difierent situations in order to facilitate an understanding of the manner in which the invention may be adapted to different services. In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the invention is shown applied in a manner to operate advantageously on or in connection with a string of drill pipe, or the like. In this case I illustrate certain elements of a typical structure employed during drilling operations, for instance, I show the'c-asing I terminating below the rotary unit R and a string S of drill pipe is shown engaged through the rotary unit and entering the casing I0. 1

The rotary unit R illustrated shows a typical structure of this general character and is shown as involving a base or frame I I supporting a table I2 through a suitable bearing I3 while a master bushing I4 is carried in the table establishing a central opening I5 concentric with the casing ID. The opening I 5 is typical of the opening found in rotaries and is designed to receive slip bushings which are distinguished from the master bushings by being relatively light, simple, and easy to handle, and in practice the slip bushings, not shown in the drawings, are frequently arranged in and removed from the table, whereas the master bushing I4 is commonly left in the table over long periods of time.

In the general arrangement illustrated in Figs.

7 and 8 of the drawings, the casing I (I is provided with a head construction such as is employed when tubing T or the like is engaged in the casing. In the case illustrated the casing III is shown provided at its upper end with a flange I5 and a tubing spider I 6 is mounted on or supported by the flange I5, the spider being provided with a slip opening for handling slips engageable with the tubing.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 there is a head construction on the easing III suitable for handling a sucker rod S or the like. In this case a flange I5 is provided on the upper end of casing I II and a head ||5 is secured to the flange I5 and is such as to normally carry packing which engages around a polish rod which forms a part of the sucker rod, the structure being such that the packing and polish rod are removed in the course of handling or manipulating the sucker rod, as for instance,

while pulling the sucker rod, at which time the wiper of the present invention is employed.

Referring first to the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the invention provides a wiper W engageable around the drill pipe S, and anchoring means A coupling the wiper W to an element of the well structure in order that the wiper may be maintained in proper position.

The wiper W provided by the present invention is preferably a simple disc-shaped element having a central opening 20 passing the pipe S and it is preferably formed of a material which allows for expansion of the wiper so that joints J of or on the pipe S may be passed through the wiper in the course of moving the string s vertically. In practice the wiper W may be formed of a simple fiat disc-like body of rubber or rubber-like mate'rial. In referring to the wiper as being of rubber it is to be understood that this term is intended to include rubber substitutes or rubberlike compositions and in practice I prefer to employ so-called rubber substitutes or synthetic rubber which is not appreciably afiected by oil, or the like. This type of material is desirable in the situation illustrated in that the material wiped 4 from the string S is often laden, more or less, with oil.

A feature of the present invention is the formation of the wiper W so that its outside diameter is so related to the opening I5 through the rotary R as to allow the wiper to be arranged in and removed from a position between the rotary and the casing III without removing or disturbing the master bushing, or like parts of the rotary. In the case illustrated in Fig. 1, the wiperW is substantially smaller in outside diameter than the opening I5 and it will be apparent that the wiper may readily be stripped over the string S and lowered through the opening I5 to a position at or below the lower end of the master bushing I4.

The anchor or anchoring means A provided by the present invention serves to releasably secure the wiper W to an element or part of the well structure, for instance either to the rotary or to the casing I0. As shown in Fig. 1 the wiper W is secured by the means ,A to the lower. endportion of the master bushing I 4 so that the wiper occurs at the lower end of the master bushing or between the master bushing and the casing III. The anchoring means A involves circumferentially spaced eyes 3|! on the wiper W, circumferentially spaced anchor elements 3| on the structure of the well to which the wiper is to be secured, and suit able coupling devices 32 joining the eyes and the anchor elements.

In the form of the invention shown inFigs. 1, .2, 3 and 4 of the drawings the wiper W is provided with but two eyes 39 and these are located at diametrically opposite parts of the wiper at the periphery thereof. The particular wiper i1"- lustrated is shown provided with radially extending or projecting parts 34 which hold or secure the eyes 30, the eyes being shown as loops of material or ring-like parts so embedded in the portions 34 as to have projecting portions engage-- able by the coupling devices 32.

In the case illustrated in Fig. 1 anchor elements 3| are shown provided on the master bushing I4 and like or corresponding anchor elements 3 l are provided on the casing Ill. The anchor elements 3| are shown as lug-like parts welded or otherwise secured to the lower end portion of the master bushing so that they have spaced parts," preferably apertured, for reception of the cow: pling devices 32. The anchor elements 3| corre-' spond in number and arrangement with the eyes 30 on the wiper to be secured, and they preferably depend somewhat from the lower end of the master bushing to be readily accessible, as illustrated in the drawings.

The anchor elements 3 I shown provided on the casing I 0 are like or similar to the anchor ele-' ments above described, thatis, they are lug-like parts welded or otherwise secured to the casing I 0 and they are spaced to correspond to the spacing of eyes on the wiper and they preferably project upwardly to be readily accessible. Ordinari-' ly but one wiper will be employed at a time and it may be coupled by the couplers 32 either to the elements 3| or to the elements 3 I. In Fig. 1 the wiper is shown attached to the elements 3|,

whereas in Fig. 2 it is shown attached to the' elements 3 l The coupling devices 32 provided by the present invention are provided to releasably connect the eyes 30 and the coupling elements and it is pre-' ferred that they join these parts so that suitable freedom of movement is allowed the wiper. It is preferred that the coupling elements 32 be linklike parts which loosely couple or link-theeyes and'ranchori-elementsz'a Irizthe casaillustrated in Fig. 3 eachccouplinggdevice,Slinvolves .a link 40 engaged with or carried by an eye 30' and a snap hook fl 'carried by the an anchoraelement; for instance either with an element 3 or an-element 3 i asmay be desired; It 'is to-be understood-thatany suitable releasable fastening device suchas a spring type latch or snap hook 3 i may be employed to afford the-doe sired releasableconneotion joining-the wiper-W with the well part, that is; either with the rotary" unit' -R-"or the casing- Hi.-

In the applicationof the wip'er shown in-Fi'gg2 the snapfasteners-or-snap hooks H are-applied to the elements 3 l which'case the wiperis" secured ina position somewhat closer to the end, of'the casing 19* than is-the case when it is applied-to the elements -3 I on the master bushing;-

Inthe form *of the invention illustrated 'irr Figs? 5 and 6 the wiper W is provided with three circumferentially spaced eyes supported or embedded in projecting parts 34 and the coupling devices 32 involve a plurality of links Ml so that each is a chain-like structure longer than the couplings shown in Fig. 3 and having considerably more flexibility than the coupler shown in Fig. 3. It will be apparent that the chain-like construction illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 may be employed in cases where substantial freedom of the wiper is desired, or where the proportioning of the parts requires such a construction.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8 the wiper W is shown provided with four circumferentially spaced eyes 3 while the head structure on the casing [U carries anchor elements 3 that receive releasable coupling devices 32 In the particular case illustrated the tubing spider I6 is spaced above the flange l5 by blocks or ribs 50, the inner ends of which are provided with the apertured anchor elements 3N.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 the portion of the head It normally carrying packing for engaging around a polish rod is provided with an extension tubular in form and provided with circumferentially spaced openings 6|. The wiper W in this case is shown engaged around the sucker rod S and projecting parts 62 are secured to the wiper W and project radially therefrom to engage in or through the openings 6 l. gaged with the outer projecting ends of the parts 62 and serve to retain the wiper W" in operating position.

It is to be observed that in each case or application of the present invention the wiper proper, which is the rubber disc-like part engaged with the part from which the material is to be wiped, is smaller than the opening in the supporting or connected structure of the well so that the wiper may be arranged in place and the anchoring means A engaged without removing or in any way disturbing the well parts.

In the case shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the wiper may be easily inserted through the rotary table and the operator may reach down through the, table and engage the anchoring means without disturbing any part of the well structure. Further, in like manner the wipers can in these cases be disengaged and removed at will, without disturbing parts of the well structure.

In the structure shown in Figs. '7 and 8 of the drawings it will be apparent how the wiper may be stripped over the tubing T and then arranged through the opening l! in the spider is to be linkandengageablewith Suitable keys or retainers 63 are en- 1 in the part till is? stripped over thesucken 6 ;,anchored-in plaiceraashowmiri thaidraww ngSQI-A 1-" :1 In ::the.. f orm :of, the;inventiongillustrated rinrFigs. 10 and -11-.the,. gwiperinnaygbetzinitiallyieinstalie e rodzandzapplied .to, t1 1ew.'head1.l 6i, the flexibility of the wiper may, beutilized toralio it to be inserted initheipartvtiri andthemflexedron: manipulated :so: that. the: part-5162::are-einserted through: the: openings :-:6 t. lncconsideringrgrthisir form of :the: @inventionjt: is toqbe; unde'rstoodgthat: the parts; fit",100se13i.;Or;free1yi o than engagements and disengagement of :thewwip'eriifromi'operatingr positionzmay beeiiected easilyxandrquicklyi;.

Having,gdescribed-tonly, i-typicalpreferred form's-s and app-lioations of .m-yjnventionrl do notwislrto be limited orrrestrictedto the.specifioldetaiis-heree in :set fo'rthnbiiti iwishztorreserve rtozmyselfnany r variations;orxinodific' tionsathat"may-appear :to those skilled in the art and-fallavitlrin the-scopes of the .followinge claimss Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A wiper for an object extending through an opening in a rotary located above a well including, a continuous annular bodily expansible body of flexible material defining a central opening adapted to slidably pass the object, the exterior of the body being smaller in diameter than the opening in the rotary, and a releasable means adapted to secure the said body in operating position between the casing and rotary for limited movement relative thereto.

'2. A wiper for an object extending through an opening in a rotary located above a well casing including, a disc-shaped body of flexible material expansible as a whole and having a central. opening slidably passing the object and having an exterior smaller in diameter than the first mentioned opening and anchoring means adapted to retain the body between the rotary and casing for limited universal movement relative thereto including circumferentially spaced radially projecting parts on the body at the exterior anchor elements, and couplings eircumferentially spaced relative to the body and releasably connecting said parts and the anchor elements. the couplings including releasable fasteners.

3. A wiper for an object extending through an opening in a rotary spaced above a well casing including, a disc-shaped body of flexibl material expansible as a whole and having a central opening slidably passing the object and having an exterior smaller in diameter than the first mentioned opening, and anchoring means includin circumferentially spaced parts fixed on the body at the exterior thereof, anchor elements fixed on the rotary, and couplings releasably connecting said parts and anchor elements, th couplings including releasable fasteners engageable with the anchor elements and a single link connecting each fastener to one of said parts.

4. In combination, two well parts, one a well casing and the other a rotary spaced above the casing and having an opening aligned with the casing and adapted to pass an object into the easing, a flexible bodily expansible annular wiper including a disc-shaped body defining a central aperture adapted to slidably pass the object, and anchoring means releasably securing said wiper to one of said parts with said wiper located between said parts, the outside diameter of the wiper being smaller than the said opening.

5. In combination, a rotary adapted to be ar ranged over a casing and having an opening adapted to slidably pass a string into the casing,

aflexible bodily expansible wiper insertable through the opening in the rotary and defining acentral aperture adapted to slidably pass said string, anchor elements on the rotary at the bottom thereof, and releasable fasteners carried by the wiper and engageable with said elements holding the wiper below the rotary for limited universal movement relativ thereto.

6. In combination, a well casing, a rotary arranged over and spaced from the casing and having an opening adapted to pass a string into the casing, a flexible bodily expansible annular wiper insertable through the opening in the rotary and defining central aperture adapted to slidably pass said string, anchor elements on the casing at the upper end thereof and releasable fasteners carried by the wiper and engageable with said elements connecting the casing and wiper for limited universal movement of the wiper relative to the casing and rotary.

GERALD R. HUNT.

References Cited in the file of this paten UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Collins May 30, 1911 Greve Dec. 5, 1922 Bettis Feb. 16, 1926 Crowell Sept. 6, 1927' Fuller Aug. 19, 1930 Thomas Nov. 17, 1936 Penfield et a1 Sept. 16, 1940 Zisman Nov. 19, 1940 Miller Apr. 22, 1941 Ballagh Feb. 10, 1942 Miller June 9, 1942 Crickmer Aug. 31, 1943 Bow Apr. 27, 1948 Kennedy et a1 July 6, 1948 Kalhoefer Aug. 30, 1949 

